Collaboratory Platforms 2023: Democratizing Access to Technologies - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply?         
Individuals who were invited to and/or attended the 2023 Grand Challenges Annual Meeting are eligible to apply as a Primary Applicant on behalf of the organization with which they are affiliated. The applicant's institution, including nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, government agencies and academic institutions, must be based in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC).^[i] Individuals and organizations classified as individuals for U.S. tax purposes are not eligible to receive an award from the foundation as part of this initiative.

Application Process

What must my application include?         
Please review the Application Instructions

Am I able to edit my proposal once submitted?         
Yes, you may edit your proposal up until the specified deadline.

What amount of indirect cost is available?        
Details of the foundation indirect cost policy guidelines can be found here: https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/Indirect_Cost_Policy.pdf

Review Process

How does the review process work?         
Please review to the Rules and Guidelines document

Can I get a list of potential reviewers who might be assigned to my application?        
No. We do not make public the roster of reviewers.

Can I request that my application not be reviewed by a specific individual?        
No. However, we will ask reviewers about conflicts of interest and will not assign reviewers with conflicts.

Will I receive specific feedback on my application if it is not selected?        
Due to the rapid proposal and review timelines applicable to this RFP, applicants with proposals that are not selected for award may receive a notification of decline without specific feedback.

If selected, can I reuse the text provided in the RFP application in the grant proposal?        
If it makes sense to do so, however, there is an expectation that the grant application will be more detailed in terms of the rationale, hypothesis, supporting data, and overall workplan.

Collaboratory Platforms

Can I apply to work with more than one Collaboratory Platform?        
Yes

I have a question about the capabilities of the Collaboratory Platforms. Who can I contact?        
We encourage attendees of GCAM to visit the Collaboratory Platforms website to learn about the capabilities of the Collaboratory Platforms. Some Platforms will also be participating in the poster session. You can also email [email protected] for more information.

Will my institution have to sign the Collaboratory Guiding Principles (if not done so already)?        
Yes. The Collaboratory Guiding Principles can be signed during the grant-making process, once you have been notified that your project will be funded.

I have a joint appointment with a HIC-based institution. Am I eligible to apply?        
Yes, but if your proposal was successful, the funding would need to be awarded to the LMIC-based institution.

Are there particular requirements regarding the use of biological specimens from human subjects?        
The Principal Investigator is responsible for obtaining any human subjects/ethics approvals and any required import/export permits needed for the project.

Award Information

Are grant awards made directly to individuals?        
No. All awards are made to the organization where the individual holds their primary appointment. Institutions must agree to the terms and conditions governing the grant award prior to award activation.

How much money will each grant provide?        
We will consider proposals for awards of up to $250,000 USD, provided to the organization, with a term of up to 2 years, depending on the scope of the project. Application budgets should be commensurate with the scope of work proposed. Indirect costs will be considered as included in the USD $250,000 (subject to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's indirect cost policy).

Please note that the Collaboratory Platforms are funded separately by the Foundation. Their activities should not be included in your budget.

Technical Support 

I forgot my password. How do I reset my password?        
You can request to update your password within the application site. If you continue to have issues, please reach out to [email protected].

How will I know if my application was submitted?        
Once an application is submitted, an email confirmation will be sent.

I'm having trouble uploading my application file. What should I do?        
If you are having issues submitting your application, we would encourage you to submit from a different browser. If the issue persists, please email the specifics of your problem to [email protected].

How often do you intend to update the Frequently Asked Questions, and do you plan to provide answers to all questions submitted?        
We will periodically post answers to questions as they are submitted, but do not have a specific schedule. We will provide answers on this page that are of relevance and of general interest to potential applicants. For answers to specific questions that are not covered here, please email [email protected].

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[i] See World Bank - Low & Middle Income Countries for definitions. Subject to the eligibility requirements in the Rules & Guidelines, investigators in low- and middle-income countries are invited (in connection with the organization with which they are affiliated) to apply through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's application portal. We reserve the right to determine eligibility for this call based on these characteristics.